Humidifier



March 24, 1936. G. w. SKILIBEYCK 2,034,886

' HUMIDIFIER Original Filed Dec. 11, 1935 2 sheets Shet 1 in L L L KL March 24,1936. w HLBE 2,034,886

HUMIDIFIER Original Filed Dec. 11, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheei 2 to the best mode I practical application of andinwhich; r Figure l is a rear view oi a conventional hot ater or steam radiator,,illustrating the 'humidi- 'to use with other types of -which will appear as ,my'invention resides Patented Mar. 24, 1936 .UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE Gerald W. Skilbeck, xenosha s'wli.

Application December 11, 1933; Serial No. 701.812 Renewed December 11, 1935 7 Claims. (91. 237-78i particularly to humidifiers for use in homes, al-

though the invention is readily applicable to commercial installations r It is an object of this invention to provide simple and inexpensive means for automatically maintaining a predetermined degree of humidity.

Another object ofthis invention is to provide a humidifier having an evaporator element of novel construction adapted to hold water in such a manner that a large expanse thereof is constantly exposed for evaporation and having means controlled by the fluctuations in the weight of saidelement arising from the evaporation of water therefrom-for maintaining a predetermined quantity of water in said element.

And a further object of this invention is to provide a humidifier which while readily applicable to. a conventional sectional radiator and so censtructed as to be substantially concealed between the sections thereof, is likewise susceptible radiators. a other objects in view the description proceeds,- in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise em bodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the-scope of the claims.

With the above and In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according have so far devised for the the principles thereof,

fier oi this inventionapplied thereto; Figure 2 is a detail sectional view through Figv ure 1 on the plane 01' the hne 2-2;

Figure 3 is a perspective view oi a portion of;

the humidifier; and Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view illustrating the valve for controlling the supply of water to the evaporating tmit.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the severalviews, the

numeral 5 designates a conventional .hot wateror steam radiator of the type for which the humidifier of this invention is particularly designed. The radiator 5 comprises similar conthrough cross bars I4 customary vertical slots I5 01' the radiator seccarried by the bar I I. .23 is opposed by the at which the valves close..- .water evaporates ifrom the mitting additional nected sections 6 and has an inlet 7 and an to be hereinafter described, with each of the units 9. The entire structureissupported from a bar ll clamped to theradiator by a plurality 0 screws l2. i 3

L The clamping screws l2 are threaded in angularbrackets l3 welded or otherwise secured to thebar H and'likewise attached to the supply duct Ill. The headed ends of the screws pass which project into the tions to receive support therefrom. Supported jointly by the bar II and the sup ply duct i0 is a plurality ofspouts 16, one for eachoi the evaporator units 9. The closed end portions of the spouts are communicated with the supply duct l0 through discharge ports II in the form of nozzles. projecting above the lower wall'oi' the spouts.

Arms is are pivotally mounted as at l9 within the spouts. The free ends of the arms project outwardly of the open ends of the spouts to support the evaporator units, which are suspended from the free ends of the arms by links attached to the evaporator units and having cross heads 2| engaging the free. ends of the arms as shown. Secured to the undersides of the arms adjacent their pivotal mountings are sealing strips'22 formed of rubber or other suitable material and adapted-to engage the open ends 01' the nozzles or ports communicating the spouts with the supply tube. Y The arms are yieldably retained in raised positions holding their removable sealingmembers 22 oif oi the ports IT, by expansile springs 23 attached to the arms as at '24, and having their other ends anchored to adjustable supports 25 The tension oi. the springs weight of the evaporating units 9 suspended from the outer ends of the arms so that when sufiicient water has been supplied to the evaporator units. the arms are pulled down closing their ports I! and shutting oil? the supplyofwaten; The adjustment of the supports '25 for the tension springs enables determination of the we t Obviously, as th 7 units 8, they become lighter and the springs again open the ports adwater. In this .manner the ginal edges by a.

fluctuations in the weight of the evaporator units due to evaporation of the water therefrom autoniatically maintains a predetermined quantity of water in the evaporator units.

Theparticular construction of the evaporator units is, of course, subject to modification .and may be designed to accommodate any particular condition.

In the present instance, these units consist of two sheets 26 of asbestos or similar absorbent material joined at their sides and bottom marmetal frame 21. The frame members are channel'shape in cross section so ,that the lower member provides a trough or shallow reservoir. j

The upper edges of the sheets 26 are bound with metal strips 28, which as best illustrated in Figure 3, have their medial portions flattened to afford an enlarged entrance into-the space hetweenthe twosheets to receive the water which dr/ips from the ends of the spouts. To insure alignment of the open upper ends of the units with the ends of the spouts, the links 20, which units, preferably by rivets are ncn-rotatablyeonnected with their supporting arms, are also non-rotatably secured to the 29 passing through loops at the lower ends of the links.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying'drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art,

that this invention affords an efficient and inexfpensivehumidifier which is readily applicable to I with a heating unit, comprising a flat element of Z the absorbent element acting water to said element. 1

2, A humidifier adapted for use with a heating a heating unit such as a hot water or steam radiator, an that it. provides noveland extremely simple means for determining and maintaining a predetermined degree of humidity.

What I claim as my invention is: a

1. A humimfler adapted for use, in conjunction absorbent material adapted to be disposed adja-. cent a portion of the heating unit and to be sat-'- urated with water, a channeled member arranged to drop water onto said element. a liquid discharge port to supply liquid to said member, 3 pivoted arm lying within said channeled member and having means to close said port. a sn it'to yieldably' hold them in its open position; and means to suspend said absorbent element from the arm so that fluctuations in the weight of the absorbent element acts against said spring 'to pull the pivotedarm down into the channeled member to close the port whereby the weight of in conjunction with" said spring automatically controls the supply of unit, comprising a substantially flat element of absorbent'materlaladapted to be disposed adja-'- I pivotedmember means to pull the cent a portion of the heating unit, a water sup ply duct adapted to be flied to the heating unit, a spout projecting from the duct with its discharge end arranged to drop water onto said element, a port between the water supply duct and said spout, a ivoted member. disposed ,within said'spout and having means to close said port, adjustable spring means to yieldably hold the 1 in its open position, and meansto suspend the said element fromthe pivoted memper that the weight of said element and the water held thereby acts against the spring pivotedme nber down toward thebottomofstlfispouttoclosetheportsothat the weight ofent and the water held thereby actin in ccnigction with the spring "ing means automatically controls the supply of'water to said element. I

3. A humidifier adapted for use in conjunction with a heating radiator, comprising an elongated water supply duct, supporting means for said 5, duct adapted to be clamped to the radiator, a plurality of water discharge spouts extending laterally from said supply duct, all of said discharge spouts being communicated with said supply duct, a pivoted arm associated with each. disin charge spout and adapted when in a lowered position to close off communications between its discharge spout and the supply duct, adjustable. spring means for each arm to yieldably retain the same in an elevated positionpermitting the is passage of water fromthe supply ductto the discharge spouts, and an-evaporating unit suspended from the end. of each arm to receive water dropping from the discharge spout, said evaporatunits when saturated with water over-balanc- 20 mg the springs and pulling the arms down to.

-1OS8 of! communication between the spouts and fluctuations in the units automatically the supply duct whereby weight of said evaporating controls the supply of water thereto.

4. A humidifier adapted for use in conj' tion with a heating imit, a water supply means to clamp the'duct to' the heating unit, a

water discharge spout-extending. laterally from said supply duct, said discharge spout being com- 30 municated with the supply duct, a. pivoted arm disposed longitudinally withinsaid spout, means arm in an elevated position permitting the pas- '40 sage of water from the [supplyduct to the discharge" spout, and an evaporating unit suspended from the free end of the-arm to recei e water dropping from the discharge spout, d evap crating unit being disposed adjacent part of the heating unit and when saturated with water over; balancing the spring to pull the arm down-into 1 its position shutting of! communication between the spout and the supply duct, whereby fluctua-" tions in the weight of said evaporating unit automatically control the supply of water thereto. I 5. In a humidifier adapted for use in conjunc tion with a heating unit, an evaporating unit comprising two sheets of absorbent material face to face and suiliciently close together to cause water dropped between the sheets to spread evenly over, the entire surface of both sheets, and means to supply water to said evaporating unit to maintain the same saturated.

.6. A humidifier of the character describedjcomprising an evaporator unit composed of two sheets of absorbent material, means to hold said sheets of a bsorbent material in side by side relationship and suiiiciently. close together to cause water dropped thereb'etween to'spread evenly over the entire surface of both sheets, means at the upper-end of theevanorator unit to guide water into the space between the sheets, and means to drop water onto said means.

7. In a humidifier of the character described. 7 an evaporator unit composed of two sheets ,of

labsorbent'material mans to hold said sheets 0! a uses face of both sheets. means at the upper edges or the sheets to provide a binding therefor and to. guide water between the sheets, a movable arm from which the evaporating unit is suspended. spring means to hold the arm up against the weight 01' the evaporator unit, said spring means yielding to allow downward movement of the arm upon an incerase in weight or the evaporator unit efl'ected by an increase in its water content beyond a predetermined degree, and a water supply controlled by the movements of the arm and adapted to drop water onto said means at the upper edges of the sheets comprising the evaporator unit.

GERALD W.- SKILBECK. 

